Police stand guard outside the house in New AddingtonPhoto: GEOFF PUGH

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Flowers, teddy bears and candles remained near the house after neighbours and friends left tributes to TiaPhoto: GEOFF PUGH

By Victoria Ward, at Camberwell Green Magistrate's Court

11:03AM BST 13 Aug 2012

New details emerged as Stuart Hazell, the partner of Tia Sharp's grandmother, appeared in court charged with murdering the schoolgirl.

Unemployed Hazell, 37, appeared by video-link at Camberwell Green Magistrate's Court in south London three days after the school girl's body was discovered wrapped in a black bed sheet in a black bag in the loft of his home.

None of Tia's relatives were in court for the two minute hearing.

Hazell, dressed in a blue t-shirt and speaking from Sutton police station, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Asked whether he understood the charge against him, that he murdered Tia Sharp between August 2 and 11, he replied: "Yes I do."

The case was then referred to the Old Bailey where Hazell will appear by video link on Wednesday. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for November 19.

Tia was reported missing by her family on August 3. Hazell is believed to have been the last person to see her at the home he shared with Tia's grandmother, Christine Sharp, 46, in New Addington, near Croydon.

A massive search was launched with teams of police officers and forensic experts combing local woodland and studying hours of CCTV footage.

However, the focus of the search remained close to the property in which she was last seen and on Friday, Tia's body was discovered by police during the fourth search of the home.

Hazell was arrested several hours later in a field in nearby Merton.

Mrs Sharp was also arrested on suspicion of murder but later released on bail.

Their next door neighbour, Paul Meehan, 39, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender but was also released on bail. It is understood he provided a witness statement saying that he had seen Tia leaving the house alone on Friday.

The cause of death has not yet been established. A post mortem was opened on Saturday and is expected to recommence this week.

The girl's mother, Natalie Sharp, 30, lay flowers at a makeshift shrine to her daughter on Sunday, leaving a card that apologised for not being there to protect her.